Terror Trading?

An unconfirmed report published by Muslim news portal, IslamOnline, suggests that the five Americans currently being detained by the Pakistani government on suspicion of terrorist ties will not be released unless the United States government is willing to negotiate a prisoner swap.

In the article, an unnamed Senior Foreign Office official in Pakistan is quoted as saying "we have sent a proposal to the President and the Prime Minister not to deport the detained US nationals unilaterally." Under the proposal by the Foreign Office, the five Americans would be exchanged for four individuals of Pakistani descent currently being held at Guantanamo Bay.

Among the names mentioned in the proposal are Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, Saifullah and Uzair Piracha, and Majid Khan. Each of these individuals is currently being held by the United States government for their connections to the Taliban and Al Qaida. While all of them provided financial and logistical support to these terrorist groups, Siddiqui went a step further – boldly attacking a group of U.S. servicemen with an assault rifle while in custody.

If this report is true it severely undercuts Pakistan's claims to be a partner against terrorism.

Related Topics: IPT News

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